English contractions
19/09/08 23:12 Filed in: Grammar
Each of the following English contractions includes an explanation of the full form and example sentences to provide context for understanding.
Positive Contractions
I'm --- I am --- Example: I'm waiting for my friend. I'll --- I will --- Example: I'll see you tomorrow. I'd --- I had / I would --- Example: I'd better leave now. OR I'd already eaten by the time he arrived. I've --- I have --- Example: I've worked here for many years.
You're --- You are --- Example: You're joking! You'll --- You will --- Example: You'll be sorry! You'd --- You had / would --- Example: You'd left before he arrived, hadn't you? OR You'd better hurry up. You've --- You have --- Example: You've been to London many times.
He's --- He is / has --- Example: He's on the phone now. OR He's been playing tennis since 10 this morning. He'll --- He will --- Example: He'll be here tomorrow. He'd --- He had / would --- Example: He'd prefer to meet you later in the week. OR He'd finished before the meeting began.
She's --- She is / has --- Example: She's watching TV at the moment. OR She's had a lot of trouble lately. She'll --- She will --- Example: She'll be at the meeting. She'd --- She had / would --- Example: She'd been working for two hours when he telephoned. OR She'd like to have a glass of wine.
It's --- It is / has --- Example: It's been long time since we saw each other last. OR It's very difficult to concentrate. It'll --- It will --- Example: It'll be here soon. It'd --- It would / had --- Example: It'd be difficult to say no. OR It'd been a long time.
We're --- We are --- Example: We're working hard on the Smith account this week. We'll --- We will --- Example: We'll begin when he arrives. We'd --- We had / would --- Example: We'd better hurry up if we want to catch the train. OR We'd finished the meeting before you arrived. We've --- We have --- Example: We've been waiting for you!
They're --- They are --- Example: They're studying German this afternoon. They'll --- They will --- Example: They'll finish soon if they concentrate. They'd --- They had / would --- Example: They'd eaten their lunch when she stopped by to say hello. OR They'd rather not come to the meeting. They've --- They have --- Example: They've just purchased a new home.
There's --- There is / has --- Example: There's a hotel in the next town. OR There's been too many telephone calls today! There'll --- There will --- Example: There'll be a price to pay! There'd --- There had / would --- Example: There'd better be a good explanation for this. OR There'd be some reason for that.
That's --- That is / has --- Example: That's been on my mind lately. OR That's why I can't come. That'll --- That will --- Example: That'll happen sooner than you think. That'd --- That had / would --- Example: That'd be the reason why. OR That'd happened before my time.
Negative Contractions
aren't --- are not --- Example: They aren't coming next week. can't --- can not --- Example: I can't understand you. couldn't --- could not --- Example: He couldn't get his shoes on! didn't --- did not --- Example: We didn't visit Rome. We went straight to Florence. doesn't --- does not --- Example: He doesn't play golf. don't --- do not --- Example: They don't like cheese. hadn't --- had not --- Example: I hadn't thought of that! hasn't --- has not --- Example: She hasn't telephoned yet. isn't --- is not --- Example: She isn't listening to you. mustn't --- must not --- Example: Children mustn't play with fire. needn't --- need not --- Example: You needn't worry about that. shouldn't --- should not --- Example: You shouldn't smoke cigarettes. wasn't --- was not --- Example: I wasn't joking when I said that. weren't --- were not --- Example: They weren't invited to the party. won't --- will not --- Example: I won't be able to attend the conference. wouldn't --- would not --- Example: She wouldn't be surprised if he showed up at the party.
Positive Contractions
I'm --- I am --- Example: I'm waiting for my friend. I'll --- I will --- Example: I'll see you tomorrow. I'd --- I had / I would --- Example: I'd better leave now. OR I'd already eaten by the time he arrived. I've --- I have --- Example: I've worked here for many years.
You're --- You are --- Example: You're joking! You'll --- You will --- Example: You'll be sorry! You'd --- You had / would --- Example: You'd left before he arrived, hadn't you? OR You'd better hurry up. You've --- You have --- Example: You've been to London many times.
He's --- He is / has --- Example: He's on the phone now. OR He's been playing tennis since 10 this morning. He'll --- He will --- Example: He'll be here tomorrow. He'd --- He had / would --- Example: He'd prefer to meet you later in the week. OR He'd finished before the meeting began.
She's --- She is / has --- Example: She's watching TV at the moment. OR She's had a lot of trouble lately. She'll --- She will --- Example: She'll be at the meeting. She'd --- She had / would --- Example: She'd been working for two hours when he telephoned. OR She'd like to have a glass of wine.
It's --- It is / has --- Example: It's been long time since we saw each other last. OR It's very difficult to concentrate. It'll --- It will --- Example: It'll be here soon. It'd --- It would / had --- Example: It'd be difficult to say no. OR It'd been a long time.
We're --- We are --- Example: We're working hard on the Smith account this week. We'll --- We will --- Example: We'll begin when he arrives. We'd --- We had / would --- Example: We'd better hurry up if we want to catch the train. OR We'd finished the meeting before you arrived. We've --- We have --- Example: We've been waiting for you!
They're --- They are --- Example: They're studying German this afternoon. They'll --- They will --- Example: They'll finish soon if they concentrate. They'd --- They had / would --- Example: They'd eaten their lunch when she stopped by to say hello. OR They'd rather not come to the meeting. They've --- They have --- Example: They've just purchased a new home.
There's --- There is / has --- Example: There's a hotel in the next town. OR There's been too many telephone calls today! There'll --- There will --- Example: There'll be a price to pay! There'd --- There had / would --- Example: There'd better be a good explanation for this. OR There'd be some reason for that.
That's --- That is / has --- Example: That's been on my mind lately. OR That's why I can't come. That'll --- That will --- Example: That'll happen sooner than you think. That'd --- That had / would --- Example: That'd be the reason why. OR That'd happened before my time.
Negative Contractions
aren't --- are not --- Example: They aren't coming next week. can't --- can not --- Example: I can't understand you. couldn't --- could not --- Example: He couldn't get his shoes on! didn't --- did not --- Example: We didn't visit Rome. We went straight to Florence. doesn't --- does not --- Example: He doesn't play golf. don't --- do not --- Example: They don't like cheese. hadn't --- had not --- Example: I hadn't thought of that! hasn't --- has not --- Example: She hasn't telephoned yet. isn't --- is not --- Example: She isn't listening to you. mustn't --- must not --- Example: Children mustn't play with fire. needn't --- need not --- Example: You needn't worry about that. shouldn't --- should not --- Example: You shouldn't smoke cigarettes. wasn't --- was not --- Example: I wasn't joking when I said that. weren't --- were not --- Example: They weren't invited to the party. won't --- will not --- Example: I won't be able to attend the conference. wouldn't --- would not --- Example: She wouldn't be surprised if he showed up at the party.